The Triumph of the Iron Masters The Search for a Style

Crystal Palace Great Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations Hyde Park, London, 1851

The Search for Style The confidence apparent in the architecture of the age of elegance in the preceding century had evaporated – It was an age of uncertainty

Patrons of Architecture Emergence of the bourgeoisie The fashionable architecture of the nineteenth century was designed to meet middle-class aspirations

Industrial Revolution Started in Britain (1750 – 1850) New way of making things Exploitation of Natural Resources – Begun with the exploitation of water and coal

Industrial Revolution Spread with a relentless force throughout the world – Dramatic increase in urban population – Demand for new buildings swelled Need for designs that will satisfy the new building types for a changing society

Discovering an Architectural Style Search for a style appropriate to the changing environment Architects needed authority to validate a new approach in architecture Classical and Gothic architecture expressed authority and were the main candidates for the battle for a style Other styles were also experimented on

John Ruskin Best known for his architectural treatise The Seven Lamps of Architecture Provided intellectual authority that enabled the public to distinguish the good and the bad, what is wrong and right in architecture

Gothic Revival of the gothic style – The gothic revival went through different phases of growth and maturity – Led to a greater understanding of the style leading to a freedom of personal expression for the designer

Houses of Parliament London, England Charles Barry and A.W.N. Pugin

Symbols of the rise of the middle class Reform Club 1837 Pall Mall Charles Barry Italianate manner

Symbols of the rise of the middle class Traveller’s Club 1827 Pall Mall Charles Barry Italianate manner

Barry provided a logical classical plan for the Houses of Parliament Plan of the Houses of Parliament, 1844

Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin designed the Gothic inspired elevation, details and interiors Houses of Parliament

The Gothic Revival The English architect A.W. Pugin acquired a mastery of medieval architecture in his youth and went on to state that Gothic architecture was the only true Christian Architecture. He was a consultant to the Sir Charles Barry on the British Houses of Parliament (1835).

Two Principles in Architecture by Pugin There should be no features about a building which are not necessary for convenience, construction or propriety Ornament should not just be applied but express the essential structure of the building

Saint Giles Catholic Church Elaborate colour and furnishings Cheadle, Staffordshire August Welby Pugin in 1841

Sir George Gilbert Scott ( ) St Pancras Hotel St Pancras Station

St. Pancras’ Dramatic contrast of the Gothic façade and the train shed which is a product of the new technology St Pancras Station

Engineer W.H. Barlow, St. Pancras Train Shed 1868 Gothic shaped roof, 243 ft. wide 600 ft. long, Point of the arch standing 100 ft. above rail level. Largest enclosed space in the world when built

Engineers and Surveyors Telford: Built bridges, roads, canals and churches Stephensons: Built bridges and railways Brunel: Built bridges, railways and ships Buildings and artifacts of industry provided knowledge and experience that could be adapted to architecture

s Albert Dock Liverpool Jesse Hartley 1845 Warehouse with area covering seven acres Massive cast-iron Doric columns One of the masterpieces of the Industrial Revolution

Leeds Town Hall 1853 Cuthbert Brodrick Great rectangular plan Gigantic Corinthian Columns Tall French-looking Baroque Tower

Leeds Town Hall 1853 Cuthbert Brodrick Symbol of civic pride in one of the new wealthy industrial cities

Grand Hotel Scarborough Cuthbert Brodrick Grandest hotel of its time A middle-class’ dream Used brick and terracotta Had an original roof line with bulging towers Used the latest service technology available

Coalbrookdale Bridge 1777 Severn River England Abraham Darby

A watercolour of the Iron Bridge under construction in 1779 by Elias Martin. Iron smelting furnace in Coalbrookdale Close-up of bridge joints Coalbrookdale Bridge Structural possibilities of Iron was demonstrated on a dramatic scale After a few years, iron was extensively used for columns and frames Hallow clay tile floors were also used to provide fireproofing for the mills Complete system of stanchions and beams were used by the beginning of the 19 th century

Iron In 1839 Chartres Cathedral’s roof was replaced with a cast-iron above the stone vault Iron was also used for the roof of the new palace of Westminster a few years later The use of iron declined after the 1850s due to architects preference for other materials and the intellectual dominance of Ruskin

Functional Tradition Iron was an obvious choice for the bulk of the ordinary buildings constructed – Bridges – Railway stations – Conservatories – Market halls – Shops and offices

Development in Construction Technology Pre-fabrication of building elements changed the craftsmanship and mechanization of the operations on site – Formation of large building contractors Development of new technical services – Heating and Ventilation – Plumbing and Sanitation – Gas lighting

Development in Construction Technology Last decades of the 19 th century – Elevator – Telephones – Mechanical ventilation

Challenges to the Designer A new range of possibilities and aesthetic challenges for designers opened with the introduction of different technologies

Crystal Palace Great Exhibition of 1851 Joseph Paxton Brought the discoveries together and became the most influential innovation of the time Supported and enclosed by iron and glass Constructed in nine months and can be dismantled and erected again Destroyed by fire in 1936

The Crystal Palace Built in Hyde Park, London for the Great Exhibition of that 1851 celebrating the achievement of modern industry. Designed by Sir Joseph Paxton, it was a “freak” creation for a very special moment. It could not be a starting point for the future because it was not related to the past. He went on to design historicist chateaux.

Crystal Palace Great Exhibition of 1851 Joseph Paxton

Natural History Museum London Alfred Waterhouse Yellow and blue terracotta Lively animal details

All Saints Margaret Street, London 1814 – 59 William Butterfield Complete demonstration of the principles of Pugin The church, vicarage and hall are closely grouped around a small court Spire is tall and the nave high Victorian architecture at its most uncompromising

High Victorian Gothic All Saints’ Church, Margaret Street designed by William Butterfield in 1850 became the model church of the Ecclesiologists. Distinguished by its strong colours. The church demonstrates on one hand the blustering confidence of the English nation, and also confusion in its aesthetic aims.

All Saints Margaret Street, London 1814 – 59 William Butterfield

Oriel Chambers London Liverpool 1864 Peter Ellis More original in its construction and function as offices Light iron frame and masonry piers Provided a solution for creating an interesting rhythm with plate glass fenestration -use of shallow oriels the height of the building

The Paris Opera Was designed by Charles Garnier ( ) and today is known as the “Opera Garnier”. Provided a setting for the masses to have a chance to be seen. The architectural program emphasized the ritual of opera attendance over the presentation.

The Paris Opera Provided a setting for the masses to have a chance to be seen. The architectural program emphasized the ritual of opera attendance over the presentation.

Thorvaldsen Museum Copenhagen 1839 Gottlieb Bindesbøll Use of Classical shapes and rich primary colours

Bibliotheque Ste. Genevieve Paris Exterior Henri Labrouste

Bibliotheque Ste. Genevieve Paris Henri Labrouste Light and lively interior

Eiffel Tower Paris France Gustave Eiffel Most visited monument in Paris Signpost of the Paris exhibition in 1889 Worlds tallest structure for many years Metal web of great complexity Demonstrated spatial possibilities for future structures and the decorative arts Gustave designed the frame for the Statue of Liberty

Neuschwanstein Castle Bavaria, Germany Eduard Riedel and Georg von Dollman Fairy castle on a mountain

Alte Pinakothek Munich Leo von Klenze One of the great picture galleries of the century Floor plan influenced the design of such buildings throughout Europe High Renaissance

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele Milan, Italy Giuseppe Mengoni New roof pedestrian street Cruciform Plan 39 Metres diameter octagon 30 metres high Expensive shelter for shopping and socializing

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele Milan, Italy Giuseppe Mengoni

Public Library Boston USA McKim, Mead and White Cinquecento essay of compelling elegance and Exquisite craftmanship

Public Library Boston USA McKim, Mead and White

Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Philadelphia Frank Furness

Industrial Revolution Industry had drastically affected traditional building methods. Prefabrication made buildings into shippable commodities. Machines made possible the cheap production of ornament which had once indicated status. The nineteenth century had changed the whole architectural landscape with a wealth of new buildings and demonstrating a massive variety of taste